Post by jillwye on Feb 5, 2014 16:57:19 GMT
Hi there,
I have a sampler that I have been researching for a number of years, and am now tantalizingly close to ‘cracking’, but can’t quite make the final link, and I am convinced it is from the area the forum/society covers.
It is the story of a girl Elizabeth Wright who died in childbirth- she was a ‘virtuous bride of 22’ suggesting it was her first child. The Sampler is stitched in 1852 by Alice Wright which may be the child –suggesting it happened between 1842-52 (or a sister or other relative). When I bought the sampler I assumed with a lot of information given it would be easy to research- mentioning an inquest at the Queens Arms on Furnace Hill, and Dr Ross, but for several years I drew a blank as to even the area of the country, but then I came across a reference to Queens Arms Furnace Hill in the British Newspaper Archives, in Dukinfield and it was the first match I had, then I identified Henry Ross practicing as a ‘surgeon druggist’ in King St ( I have the first reference to him at ‘The Board of Health’ 1841, and know he died aged 40 in 1857). However despite trawling through newspaper archives looking for headlines or inquest details I have drawn another blank, I have searched for the death of Elizabeth, but without actually visiting to look at registers etc it is impossible to identify the right person-basically I think despite hours of fascinating research into 19th century medics and childbirth, I have drawn another blank, and am just wondering if it rings any bells with anybody
The Sampler reads as follows:
Good people hear my doleful tale
In plaintive accents though tis penned
A once loved wife no bewail
And griev to think on her sad end
She was youthful virtuous bride
Her age it was but twenty two
By murderous hands alas she died
She left on earth an orphan to
In child bed anguish she was slain
By Doctor Ross’s unskillful hand
Who thinks not what amount of pain
A victim to his skill can stand
An inquest at the Queens Arms on furnacehill
Prov’d but too true she’d had foul play
And that twas he that did kill her
I never shall forget that day
A post mortem and inquest did advance
To shew what twas thast caus’d her death
Twas as vile presumptuous ignorance
That robbed her of her earthly breath
The jury heard with careful ear
The evidence before them brought
Twas such as scaree’er did appear
Before in any other court
A guilty verdict then was given
Which all the world I think should know
And as’tis register’d in Heaven
It also shall be here below
Twas gross neglect and want of skill
Coupled with the Jury animad version
Hoping alsa no more he’d kill
But go to college and learn his lesson
O’er life’s career he’s cast a gloom
Mark’d by poignant grief and sorrow
And sent from earth to early tomb
A victim to neglect and hurry
Can he withstand the orphans gaze
Robb’d of its dearest earthly treasure
Or compensate in years or days
The suffering grief that’s void of measure
Thank you so much everyone for reading!!
Jill Wye
I have a sampler that I have been researching for a number of years, and am now tantalizingly close to ‘cracking’, but can’t quite make the final link, and I am convinced it is from the area the forum/society covers.
It is the story of a girl Elizabeth Wright who died in childbirth- she was a ‘virtuous bride of 22’ suggesting it was her first child. The Sampler is stitched in 1852 by Alice Wright which may be the child –suggesting it happened between 1842-52 (or a sister or other relative). When I bought the sampler I assumed with a lot of information given it would be easy to research- mentioning an inquest at the Queens Arms on Furnace Hill, and Dr Ross, but for several years I drew a blank as to even the area of the country, but then I came across a reference to Queens Arms Furnace Hill in the British Newspaper Archives, in Dukinfield and it was the first match I had, then I identified Henry Ross practicing as a ‘surgeon druggist’ in King St ( I have the first reference to him at ‘The Board of Health’ 1841, and know he died aged 40 in 1857). However despite trawling through newspaper archives looking for headlines or inquest details I have drawn another blank, I have searched for the death of Elizabeth, but without actually visiting to look at registers etc it is impossible to identify the right person-basically I think despite hours of fascinating research into 19th century medics and childbirth, I have drawn another blank, and am just wondering if it rings any bells with anybody
The Sampler reads as follows:
Good people hear my doleful tale
In plaintive accents though tis penned
A once loved wife no bewail
And griev to think on her sad end
She was youthful virtuous bride
Her age it was but twenty two
By murderous hands alas she died
She left on earth an orphan to
In child bed anguish she was slain
By Doctor Ross’s unskillful hand
Who thinks not what amount of pain
A victim to his skill can stand
An inquest at the Queens Arms on furnacehill
Prov’d but too true she’d had foul play
And that twas he that did kill her
I never shall forget that day
A post mortem and inquest did advance
To shew what twas thast caus’d her death
Twas as vile presumptuous ignorance
That robbed her of her earthly breath
The jury heard with careful ear
The evidence before them brought
Twas such as scaree’er did appear
Before in any other court
A guilty verdict then was given
Which all the world I think should know
And as’tis register’d in Heaven
It also shall be here below
Twas gross neglect and want of skill
Coupled with the Jury animad version
Hoping alsa no more he’d kill
But go to college and learn his lesson
O’er life’s career he’s cast a gloom
Mark’d by poignant grief and sorrow
And sent from earth to early tomb
A victim to neglect and hurry
Can he withstand the orphans gaze
Robb’d of its dearest earthly treasure
Or compensate in years or days
The suffering grief that’s void of measure
Thank you so much everyone for reading!!
Jill Wye